Friday, April 17, 2015

AGENDA NOTES: San Leandro to add more funding for the homeless

San Leandro City Council Preview835 East 14th StreetMonday, April 20, 2015, 7 p.m.[FULL AGENDA HERE] Twitter hashtag: #slmtgHELP FOR THE HOMELESS Last October, the San Leandro City Council established a Homeless Task Force with $150,000 in funding for a warming center in advance of the coming winter. However, the task force is already finding the problem of homelessness and general demand for social services is outstripping dwindling local and state funding streams. On Monday, the City Council will determine whether to allocated $400,000 from its General Fund Uncertainty Reserve to create a community assistance budget. "Assessments by our social service providers demonstrate a disparity between the growing demand for human services and declining funding," says a city staff report. "Agencies that provide the basic safety net services to our most vulnerable residents have articulated the need for better collaboration and City support."The sentiment was also conveyed this week by the director of the Alameda County social services agency following the announcement of a $65 million funding gap.Under the proposal, one-fourth of the $400,000 allocation would go toward continuation of services at the current warming center, followed by $75,000 for the social service needs assesment, among other budgetary items.THIS & THAT After San Leandro City Clerk Marian Handa retired last month, the city manager combed over 80 applicantions for her replacement and chose Oakland Assistant City Clerk Tamika Thomas. Oakland's city clerk's office has made city government there the most transparent in the East Bay. Expect big changes coming to San Leandro...Just in time for 420 Day, City Manager Chris Zapata will give the council an update on San Leandro process for selecting an operator for its first-ever medical cannabis dispensary.CLOSED SESSION Council will meet with negotiators from the Port of Oakland on price and terms over the 14-foot strip of land known as Eden Road. POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE The city will celebrate Arbor Day on April 24 with a tree-planting ceremony. Proclamations for "Fair Housing Month" and "Solar Week" starting April 27 will also be declared. Former City Council candidate David Anderson will be appointed to the Senior Commission and Planning Commissioner Scott Rennie will receive a commendation for his service.LAST TIME OUT April 6, the council heard plans by Waste Management's Davis Street Transfer Station to expand its operations. Through permits, the new construction should be a financial windfall for the city's general fund...City staff updated the council on San Leandro's water conservation efforts following Gov. Jerry Brown's emergency order for a 25 percent reduction in usage. >>>WATCH IT HERE>>>Next council meeting: Monday, May 4, 7 p.m.ALMANAC Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter (first term, ends 2018); Councilmember Deborah Cox (first term, ends 2018); Councilmember Ursula Reed (second term, ends 2016); Councilmember Lee Thomas (first term, ends 2018); Councilmember Benny Lee, first term, ends 2016); Councilmember Corina Lopez (first term, ends 2018); Vice Mayor/Councilmember Jim Prola, District 6 (second term, ends 2016).